Emma by Jane Austen Retold by Gill Tavner and Real Reads

Gill Tavern and Real Reads have been retelling famous classics from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens to Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. “…fitted into a 64-page book, making classic stories, dramas and histories available to intelligent young readers as a bridge to the full texts, to language students wanting access to other cultures, and to adult readers who are unlikely ever to read the original versions.” Goodreads. There new book “Emma” by Jane Austen has been added to list of classical stories.

Goodreads synopsis:
Following her governess's marriage, wealthy, spoilt Emma Woodhouse seeks new company and new amusement. Ignoring the warnings of her friend Mr. Knightley, she begins a series of terrible blunders. Through letters to her sister, the author presents the reader with puzzles to confuse even the best detective. Who sent the mystery piano? Why is Mr. Elton so charming and Miss Fairfax so reserved? How many men can Harriet love? Who is hiding a shocking secret? With little understanding of her own feelings, can Emma lead anyone towards happiness? Can you solve any of the mysteries before Emma does?

This book includes a list of characters in the front of the book with little one sentence descriptions for each of them, thus making it easier to comprehend what is going on throughout the story. If you get lost with who is who in this story you can always use this character’s list as a reference.

They also include “Taking this Further” section in the back of the book including “Filling in the Spaces” which informs the readers of subplots and information that the cut from the original book. “Back in time” which includes information about the author, “Finding out more” which gives you resources to find out more about the book and author, and lastly “Food for thought” which gives you questions to further the reader to think about the characters, themes and plots.

This book is great for kids in late elementary or early middle school. I would not advertise it for adults even as an abridge version of the original story. Though, I think this book would be an excellent addition to classroom homework, I find that it was too easy of an read that many adults would not be interested in. I am a huge fan of the original story, and I agree with what subplots they decided to leave out. It’s hard with these adaptations, the originals are always best but that is not the point of these books. The point is to capture as much of the original story in a short easier to read story for less “read-aholics”. I think they did just swell in their attempts to downsize this story and hope all younger adults will enjoy the plot as much as I did. 

DISCLAIMER: I received this book free from Goodreads first reads for this review. I pride myself on an honest review. Therefor just because I received this book for free for my review I review these books unbiased.

Upcoming April Reviews

Stardust by Neil Gailman

GOODREADS SYNOPSIS:

Hopelessly crossed in love, a boy of half-fairy parentage leaves his mundane Victorian-English village on a quest for a fallen star in the magical realm. The star proves to be an attractive woman with a hot temper, who plunges with our hero into adventures featuring witches, the lion and the unicorn, plotting elf-lords, ships that sail the sky, magical transformations, curses whose effects rebound, binding conditions with hidden loopholes and all the rest.

Emma~ Retold by Gill Tavner

More than likely going to have my 9 yr old daughter read too. Since I have the full length version on my want-to read list.

GOODREADS SYNOPSIS:

Following her governess's marriage, wealthy, spoilt Emma Woodhouse seeks new company and new amusement. Ignoring the warnings of her friend Mr Knightley, she begins a series of terrible blunders.Through letters to her sister, the author presents the reader with puzzles to confuse even the best detective. Who sent the mystery piano? Why is Mr Elton so charming and Miss Fairfax so reserved? How many men can Harriet love? Who is hiding a shocking secret?With little understanding of her own feelings, can Emma lead anyone towards happiness?Can you solve any of the mysteries before Emma does?Real Reads are accessible texts designed to support the literacy development of primary and lower secondary age children while introducing them to the riches of our international literary heritage. Each book is a retelling of a work of great literature from one of the world s greatest cultures, fitted into a 64-page book, making classic stories, dramas and histories available to intelligent young readers as a bridge to the full texts, to language students wanting access to other cultures, and to adult readers who are unlikely ever to read the original versions.

Parlor Games by Maryka Biaggio

GOODREADS SYNOPSIS: A sweeping historical novel based on the true story of a beautiful con artist whose turn-of-the-century escapades take her around the world as she's doggedly pursued by a Pinkerton Agency detective

The novel opens in 1917 with our cunning protagonist, May Dugas, standing trial for extortion. As the trial unfolds, May tells her version of events.

In 1887, at the tender age of eighteen, May ventures to Chicago in hopes of earning enough money to support her family. Circumstances force her to take up residence at the city’s most infamous bordello, but May soon learns to employ her considerable feminine wiles to extract not only sidelong looks but also large sums of money from the men she encounters.  Insinuating herself into Chicago’s high society, May lands a well-to-do fiancé—until, that is, a Pinkerton Agency detective named Reed Doherty intervenes and summarily foils the engagement. 

Unflappable May quickly rebounds, elevating seduction and social climbing to an art form as she travels the world, eventually marrying a wealthy Dutch Baron. Unfortunately, Reed Doherty is never far behind and continues to track May in a delicious cat-and-mouse game as the newly-minted Baroness’s misadventures take her from San Francisco to Shanghai to London and points in between.

The Pinkerton Agency really did dub May the “Most Dangerous Woman,” branding her a crafty blackmailer and ruthless seductress.  To many, though, she was the most glamorous woman to grace high society. Was the real May Dugas a cold-hearted swindler or simply a resourceful provider for her poor family?

As the narrative bounces back and forth between the trial taking place in 1917 and May’s devious but undeniably entertaining path to the courtroom—hoodwinking and waltzing her way through the gilded age and into the twentieth century—we're left to ponder her guilt as we move closer to finding out what fate ultimately has in store for our irresistible adventuress. 

Kill Ruby Rose by Jessie Humphries

 GOODREADS SYNOPSIS:

In sunny Southern California, seventeen-year-old Ruby Rose is known for her killer looks and her killer SAT scores. But ever since her dad, an LAPD SWAT sergeant, died, she's also got a few killer secrets.

To cope, Ruby has been trying to stay focused on school (the top spot in her class is on the line) and spending time with friends (her Jimmy Choos and Manolo Blahniks are nothing if not loyal). But after six months of therapy and pathetic parenting by her mom, the District Attorney, Ruby decides to pick up where her dad left off and starts going after the bad guys herself.

When Ruby ends up killing a murderer to save his intended victim, she discovers that she's gone from being the huntress to the hunted. There's a sick mastermind at play, and he has Ruby in his sights. Ruby must discover who's using her to implement twisted justice before she ends up swapping Valentino red for prison orange.

With a gun named Smith, a talent for martial arts, and a boyfriend with eyes to die for, Ruby is ready to face the worst. And if a girl's forced to kill, won't the guilt sit more easily in a pair of Prada peep-toe pumps?